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The blockade: a the human rights violation of an entire people

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Economic losses through April 2013 amount to $1.16 trillion

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The Embargo a 'genocidal policy'

The U.S. blockade of Cuba, which has continued for more than 50 years, constitutes "the greatest violation of the human rights of an entire people," and has caused economic losses in excess of one trillion dollars, stated Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Abelardo Moreno. Moreno officially presented the document "The necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States of America, to be submitted to the UN General Assembly on October 29, which contains a summary of the principal damages inflicted by this policy on the country’s society and economy.The document was presented at Havana’s William Soler Pediatric Cardiology Center, an institution affected by limitations in terms of acquiring medicaments, reagents, spare parts for diagnostic equipment, among other implements needed to save the lives of thousands of children.In addition to the public health sector, the Deputy Foreign Minister mentioned concrete examples of how the blockade is affecting university education, sports and foreign trade.

In spite of the fact that President Barack Obama promised a new beginning in relations with Cuba, five years later the blockade remains intact and has been intensified in some areas, such as in the financial sphere, Moreno noted.Between January 2009 and September 9, 2013, U.S. authorities have obliged 30 U.S. and foreign entities to pay more than $2.446 billion for trading with Cuba and other sanctioned countries.The Cuban minister emphasized the massive international opposition to this U.S. genocidal policy, which was directly rejected by 47 countries during the high-level segment of the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly.On October 29, solid support is expected from the overwhelming majority of states represented in this forum, as has been the case for the past 20 years. Last year, 188 countries voted in favor of an end to this policy against the Cuban people.